Morphological analysis and radiocarbon dating of non-returning boomerangs from Cooper Creek/Kinipapa (Northeast South Australia)

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dc.contributor.authorRoberts, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorFreeman, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWesley, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorLevchenko, VAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBarry, LAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBordes, Len_AU
dc.contributor.authorLitherland, Ken_AU
dc.contributor.authorLitherland, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHaynes, Jen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPaterson, Aen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-04T00:34:11Zen_AU
dc.date.available2024-10-04T00:34:11Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2021-11-03en_AU
dc.date.statistics2024-10-04en_AU
dc.description.abstractIn this article we present the results of a morphological analysis of four mostly complete non-returning boomerangs and one shaped wooden fragment recovered in 2017 and 2018 from Cooper Creek near Innamincka in South Australia’s far northeast. This archaeological collection forms one of only six known/published wooden artefact assemblages in the country. We also detail the results of the direct accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) measurement of the artefacts which range from circa 275–175 BP (1650–1830 cal AD, median ages reported). Given that the age estimates obtained for the artefacts are from the recent period, we have complemented the morphological analysis by interpreting the assemblage within the context of ethnohistorical records and Traditional Owner knowledge. The assemblage reveals a variety of forms and functions representative of the diverse cultural activities and daily lives of the Aboriginal people who lived near significant waterholes in the Cooper Creek region during this period. The boomerangs also preserve manufacture and use-wear traces, providing insights into the life histories of each implement. In addition to their likely use as projectiles, our results indicate that the boomerangs were probably used for fighting, hunting, digging, fire management and possibly in ceremonies. Predictions for climate change in the region threaten to alter the conditions that allowed the preservation of these artefacts which may negatively affect the potential survival of other wooden objects that remain in the environment. © 2024 Informa UK Limiteden_AU
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was approved by Flinders University’s Social and Behavioural Research Ethics Committee (Project Number: 8407). Permission to take samples from the objects was approved by the Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka community and in accordance with the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988. We thank Alice Beales from the South Australian Museum for the provision of relevant accession lists. We acknowledge the financial support from the Centre for Accelerator Science at ANSTO, through the Australian National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). We are grateful to Chantal Wight for her help in the Flinders University laboratories and Vito Hernandez for assistance with the microscope. Thanks also to Martin O’Leary from the South Australian State Herbarium for guidance on taxa and wood features and Antoinette Hennessy for the provision of maps. We also acknowledge National Parks and Wildlife South Australia for their support of this project.en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0312-2417en_AU
dc.identifier.issn2470-0363en_AU
dc.identifier.issue1en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleAustralian Archaeologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination31-48en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03122417.2021.1994685en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15730en_AU
dc.identifier.volume88en_AU
dc.languageEnglishen_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_AU
dc.subjectMorphological changesen_AU
dc.subjectCarbon 14en_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectSouth Australiaen_AU
dc.subjectArchaeological specimensen_AU
dc.subjectMass spectrometersen_AU
dc.subjectWateren_AU
dc.subjectIndigenous peoplesen_AU
dc.titleMorphological analysis and radiocarbon dating of non-returning boomerangs from Cooper Creek/Kinipapa (Northeast South Australia)en_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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